Displaceable Speaker Array and Related Assemblies

ABSTRACT

A displaceable speaker assembly for a vehicle includes a housing, a speaker array rotatably coupled to the housing and including a plurality of electro-acoustic transducers (e.g., twiddlers), a drive unit coupled to the housing, and a lever assembly coupling the drive unit to the speaker array. The drive unit is operable to drive motion of the lever assembly, which, in turn, drives rotation of the speaker array relative to the housing.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a displaceable speaker array, and, moreparticularly, to a displaceable speaker array for a vehicle instrumentpanel.

SUMMARY

All examples and features mentioned below can be combined in anytechnically possible way.

In one aspect, a displaceable speaker assembly for a vehicle. Thespeaker assembly includes a housing, a speaker array rotatably coupledto the housing and including a plurality of electro-acoustic transducers(e.g., twiddlers), a drive unit (e.g., a motor, such as a stepper motor,and a geartrain) coupled to the housing, and a lever assembly couplingthe drive unit to the speaker array. The drive unit is operable to drivemotion of the lever assembly, which, in turn, drives rotation of thespeaker array relative to the housing.

Implementations may include one of the following features, or anycombination thereof.

In some implementations, the speaker assembly is configured to fitwithin an instrument panel surface of the vehicle.

In certain implementations, the speaker array also includes a face platewhich supports the plurality of electro-acoustic transducers; and anenclosure which encloses rear radiating surfaces of the electro-acoustictransducers.

In some examples, the faceplate defines a port, and the enclosureacoustically connects the rear radiating surfaces of the transducerswith the port.

In certain examples, the speaker assembly also includes a dovetail mountcoupled to the speaker array; a bridge member coupled to the leverassembly; and an adjustment screw coupling the bridge member to thedovetail mount and allowing for adjustment of the position of thespeaker assembly relative to the housing.

In some cases, a first end of the bridge member is rotatably coupled tothe lever assembly, and the dovetail mount defines a dove tail groovewhich slidably receives a second end of the bridge member.

In some cases, the speaker assembly also includes a nut for engaging theadjustment screw, and the dovetail mount further defines a pocket forreceiving and supporting the nut.

In some implementations, the speaker assembly also includes a mountingbracket coupled to the housing and configured to support the drive unitand the lever assembly. The mounting bracket includes a bumper whichlimits rotation of the lever assembly thereby to inhibit over travel ofthe lever assembly.

In certain implementations, the bumper inhibits the speaker array frommoving, relative to the housing, from an open position to a closedposition when the speaker assembly is exposed to mechanical force.

In another aspect, an instrument panel for a vehicle includes adisplaceable speaker assembly. The speaker assembly includes a housingmounted to the instrument panel; a speaker array rotatably mounted tothe housing and including a plurality of electro-acoustic transducers, adrive unit coupled to the housing, and a lever assembly coupling thedrive unit to the speaker array. The drive unit is operable to drivemotion of the lever assembly, which, in turn drives rotation of thespeaker array relative to the housing. The speaker array is displaceablebetween a first, closed position in which the electro-acoustictransducers are disposed substantially beneath a surface of theinstrument panel, and a second, open position in which theelectro-acoustic transducers are disposed substantially above thesurface of the instrument panel.

Implementations may include one of the above and/or below features, orany combination thereof.

In some implementations, the electro-acoustic transducers includetwiddlers, which are arranged to collectively produce sound in afrequency range of a full-range driver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a displaceable speaker assembly.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view a speaker array from the speaker assemblyof FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of an actuator assembly and a leverassembly from the speaker assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the speaker assembly of FIG. 1Amounted in a vehicle instrument panel and illustrate a speaker array ofthe assembly in an open position and a closed position, respectively.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional side views of an actuator assemblyand a lever assembly—shown in an open position and a closed position,respectively—from the speaker assembly of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dovetail mount from the speakerassembly of FIG. 1A.

Like reference numerals represent like features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to a displaceable speaker array for a vehicleinstrument panel. The speaker array includes a plurality ofelectro-acoustic devices in a ported enclosure. The array mechanism isactivated with a drive unit. The mechanism employs lever arms that areblocked during over travel to prevent damage from excessive mechanicalshock or other loading on the speaker enclosure. An adjustment screw isutilized to allow an assembler the ability of setting a height of thespeaker array, relative to an outer surface of the instrument panel,very precisely (e.g., such that trim covering the speaker array issubstantially flush with the surface of the instrument panel when thespeaker array is in a closed position.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a displaceable speaker assembly 10 isdesigned to fit within an instrument panel of a vehicle. The speakerassembly 10 includes a speaker array 12; a housing 14; an actuatorassembly 16; a lever assembly 18; and an internal harness 20 thatconnects the speaker array 10 and the actuator assembly 16 to anelectrical connector 21 (FIG. 1C).

The speaker array 12 (a/k/a “line array”) includes three (3)electroacoustic-transducers 22 attached to a plastic faceplate 24; and a2-piece enclosure 26 (e.g., a 1.2 liter to 1.3 liter ported enclosure).In the illustrated example, the electro-acoustic transducers 22 aretwiddlers (i.e., combination tweeter/mid-range drivers) whichindividually can reproduce sound in a frequency range of about 300 Hz toabout 20 kHz. The 2-piece enclosure 26 encloses the rear radiatingsurfaces of the electro-acoustic transducers 22 and acousticallyconnects the rear radiating surfaces of the electro-acoustic transducers22 with a port 30 on the faceplate 24. Apertures 31A and 31B areprovided in the enclosure 26 and in the housing 14, respectively, formounting pieces of vehicle trim (e.g., instrument panel trim) thereto.

The speaker array 12 is rotatably attached to the housing 14 via a hinge32 that runs along a back edge of the enclosure 26. The speaker array 12provides for greater radiating surface area than a single one of theelectro-acoustic transducers 22 alone while avoiding the packaginglimitations of a single larger electro-acoustic transducer. The resultis a low profile package that can reproduce sound in a wider frequencyrange, such as that of a larger single electro-acoustic transducer(e.g., a full range driver which reproduces sound covering the audiospectrum above 100 Hz (e.g., about 100 Hz to about 20 kHz).

Referring to FIG. 1C, the actuator assembly 16 includes a drive unit 32and a printed circuit board with motion control electronics 33 supportedin a mounting bracket 34 which is attached to the housing 14 (FIG. 1A).In one example, the drive unit 32 includes a motor 32 a and a geartrain32 b which couples the motor 32 a to the lever assembly 18 and providesa 100:1 reduction. The motor 32 a may be a stepper motor or a brushed DCmotor. Suitable drive units include EAD climate control actuatorsavailable from Johnson Electric. The mounting bracket 34 also supportsthe lever assembly 18, which joins the drive unit 32 to a dovetail mount36 that is attached to the faceplate 24 (FIG. 1B) (e.g., via mechanicalfasteners and/or adhesive).

In use, the housing 14 is fixedly mounted to an instrument panel of avehicle. The housing 14 remains fixed relative to the instrument panelwhile the speaker array 24 is displaceable, between an open position anda closed position, relative to the instrument panel and the housing 12.FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the speaker array 12 in an open/raisedposition (FIG. 2A), in which the electro-acoustic transducers 22 aredisposed substantially above the upper surface of the instrument panel37, and a closed position (FIG. 2B), in which the electro-acoustictransducers 22 (not visible in FIG. 2B) are disposed substantiallybeneath the upper surface of the instrument panel 37. Typically, theelectro-acoustic transducers 22 will be disposed behind a grille whichhas been removed from the figures for clarity. The speaker array 12 willactivate (transition from the closed position to the raised position)when power is applied to the vehicle's audio system. The speaker array12 is designed to rise up—driven by the drive unit 32 and the leverassembly 18—from the surface of the instrument panel 37 at an angle ofabout 14 degrees.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the lever assembly 18 includes a pair oflever arms (i.e., first and second lever arms 38, 40) and a bridgemember 42. A first end 44 of the first lever arm 38 is coupled to ashaft 46 of the drive unit 32. A second end 48 of the first lever arm 38is rotatably coupled to a first end 50 of the second lever arm 40. Asecond end 52 of the second lever arm 40 is rotatably coupled to a firstend 54 of the bridge member 42. A second end 56 of the bridge member 42is slidably received in a dove tail groove 58 (FIG. 4) formed in thedovetail mount 36.

The dovetail mount 36 also defines a pocket 60 which receives andsupports a nut 62. An adjustment screw 66 couples the bridge member 42to the nut 62 and allows for adjustment of the bridge member 42 relativeto the dovetail mount 36. The adjustment screw 66 can be utilized toallow an assembler to set the height of the array assembly 10 veryprecisely. This can help to provide the best alignment possible betweenthe array assembly 10 and the vehicle trim (e.g., the surface of theinstrument panel) within which the array assembly 10 is mounted, e.g.,such that a first piece of vehicle trim 67A (FIGS. 2A and 2B) attachedto the enclosure 26 is substantially flush with a second piece vehicletrim (FIGS. 2A and 2B) attached to the housing 14. In some cases, aspring washer (not shown) may be provided beneath a head of theadjustment screw 66 to help ensure a tight fit.

The drive unit 32 drives motion of the lever assembly 18, which, inturn, drives motion of the speaker array 12 relative to the housing 14.Notably, the mounting bracket 34 includes a bumper 68 which limitsrotation of the first lever arm 38 to inhibit over travel and preventdamage to the system from excessive forces, such as those that occur ina vehicle driving over cracks and bumps at high rates of speed.Specifically, the first lever arm 38 may rotate about 200 degrees fromthe closed position to the open position before the second end 48 of thefirst lever arm 38 and/or the first end 50 of the second lever arm 40engages the bumper 68 which restricts further movement. The bumper 68thus prevents the speaker array 12 from slamming closed into the housing14 when the vehicle is exposed to excessive forces. The bumper 68 may beformed of a compliant material such as an elastomer.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that additional modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the inventive concepts described herein,and, accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A displaceable speaker assembly for a vehicle,the speaker assembly comprising: a housing; a speaker array rotatablycoupled to the housing, the speaker array comprising plurality ofelectro-acoustic transducers; a drive unit coupled to the housing; and alever assembly coupling the drive unit to the speaker array, wherein thedrive unit is operable to drive motion of the lever assembly, which, inturn, drives rotation of the speaker array relative to the housing. 2.The speaker assembly of claim 1, wherein the speaker assembly isconfigured to fit within an instrument panel surface of the vehicle. 3.The speaker assembly of claim 1, wherein the electro-acoustictransducers comprise twiddlers.
 4. The speaker assembly of claim 1,wherein the speaker array comprises: a face plate which supports heplurality of electro-acoustic transducers; and an enclosure whichencloses rear radiating surfaces of the electro-acoustic transducers. 5.The speaker assembly of claim 4, wherein the faceplate defines a port,and wherein the enclosure acoustically connects the rear radiatingsurfaces of the transducers with the port.
 6. The speaker assembly ofclaim 1, further comprising: a dovetail mount coupled to the speakerarray; a bridge member coupled to the lever assembly; and an adjustmentscrew coupling the bridge member to the dovetail mount and allowing foradjustment of the position of the speaker assembly relative to thehousing.
 7. The speaker assembly of claim 6, wherein a first end of thebridge member is rotatably coupled to the lever assembly, and whereinthe dovetail mount defines a dove tail groove which slidably receives asecond end of the bridge member.
 8. The speaker assembly of claim 6,further comprising a nut for engaging the adjustment screw, wherein thedovetail mount further defines a pocket for receiving and supporting thenut.
 9. The speaker assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mountingbracket coupled to the housing and configured to support the drive unitand the lever assembly, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a bumperwhich limits rotation of the lever assembly thereby to inhibit overtravel of the lever assembly.
 10. The speaker assembly of claim 9,wherein the bumper inhibits the speaker array from moving, relative tothe housing, from an open position to a closed position when the speakerassembly is exposed to mechanical force.
 11. An instrument panel for avehicle, the instrument panel comprising: a displaceable speakerassembly comprising: a housing mounted to the instrument panel; aspeaker array rotatably mounted to the housing, the speaker arraycomprising a plurality of electro-acoustic transducers; a drive unitcoupled to the housing; and a lever assembly coupling the drive unit tothe speaker array, wherein the drive unit is operable to drive motion ofthe lever assembly, which, in turn drives rotation of the speaker arrayrelative to the housing, wherein the speaker array is displaceablebetween a first, closed position in which the electro-acoustictransducers are disposed substantially beneath a surface of theinstrument panel, and a second, open position in which theelectro-acoustic transducers are disposed substantially above thesurface of the instrument panel.
 12. The instrument panel of claim 11,wherein the electro-acoustic transducers comprise twiddlers, which arearranged to collectively produce sound in a frequency range of afull-range driver.
 13. The instrument panel of claim 11, wherein thespeaker array comprises: a face plate which supports the plurality ofelectro-acoustic transducers; and an enclosure which encloses rearradiating surfaces of the electro-acoustic transducers.
 14. Theinstrument panel of claim 13, wherein the faceplate defines a port, andwherein the enclosure acoustically connects the rear radiating surfacesof the transducers with the port.
 15. The instrument panel of claim 11,further comprising: a dovetail mount coupled to the speaker array; abridge member coupled to the lever assembly; and an adjustment screwcoupling the bridge member to the dovetail mount and allowing foradjustment of the position of the speaker assembly relative to thehousing.
 16. The instrument panel of claim 15, wherein a first end ofthe bridge member is rotatably coupled to the lever assembly, andwherein the dovetail mount defines a dove tail groove which slidablyreceives a second end of the bridge member.
 17. The instrument panel ofclaim 15, further comprising a nut for engaging the adjustment screw,wherein the dovetail mount further define a pocket for receiving andsupporting the nut.
 18. The instrument panel of claim 11, furthercomprising a mounting bracket coupled to the housing and configured tosupport the drive unit and the lever assembly, wherein the mountingbracket comprises a bumper which limits rotation of the lever assemblythereby to inhibit over travel of the lever assembly.
 19. The instrumentpanel of claim 18, wherein the bumper inhibits the speaker array frommoving, relative to the housing, from the open position to the closedposition when the speaker assembly is exposed to a mechanical force.